Author
Topic: New Steve Weber Project. (Read 1038 times)

I just ordered proto boards for a SSB reversion of the Soda Pop, tentatively named "slop bucket".

It's based on the Survivor SSB rig design, but with a Si5351 VFO and of course, mostly SMT parts. It is slightly bigger then the soda pop board, but not by much.(92 x 100 mm). It includes a VOX circuit so it can be connected directly to a sound card for digital mode operation. I decided not to board mount the jacks this time for two reasons. 1) to keep the board smaller then 100 x 100 mm and 2) it allows more flexibility of enclosure choices.

My plan is to initially offer just 50 kits, all of the same band and only to US address. I know this will disappoint a lot of people, but it makes my life easier. ETA is before Christmas.

The main reason for offering just one band is because the IF frequency is different depending on the band to keep unwanted mixer products well away from the operating frequency.

A 20 M version will use a 9 MHz IF and a 40M version will use a 11.059 MHz IF. The 20M version will likely require a more expensive PA then the 40M version to get decent power output and that could impact the price of the kit, but probably not by too much. The price will be in the ball park of the Soda Pop kit.

Shhhhhhhhhh! I've been following Steve's progress on this digital capable SSB rig for weeks but haven't posted here hoping that when he's ready to take orders the feeding frenzy won't consume all available radios before I get my order in .I'm only half kidding since the last one of his kits I got in on was the first build of the MTR-3B three years ago. They sell out so quick I keep missing them.

I've always wanted a tiny SSB radio that can do digital. I'm thinking I might get some teenagers interested in ham radio with digital texting on a cell phone or tablet.

Steve's an amazing guy and a talented engineer. I just wonder where he finds all the time

Well Steve emailed me over the weekend and said he has 14 left, so I have one coming . Now I'm just getting nervous about soldering that little Si5351 chip. I have done it before twice with EtherKits Si5351 break out board and was successful both times but that was 3 years ago, I'm much older now:-( Steve recommends using solder paste and hot air, but I will be hand soldering all components. As long as they are not any smaller than 0805 I should be okay. Thanks for the tip on the box, I'll check it out.

Well Steve emailed me over the weekend and said he has 14 left, so I have one coming . Now I'm just getting nervous about soldering that little Si5351 chip. I have done it before twice with EtherKits Si5351 break out board and was successful both times but that was 3 years ago, I'm much older now:-( Steve recommends using solder paste and hot air, but I will be hand soldering all components. As long as they are not any smaller than 0805 I should be okay. Thanks for the tip on the box, I'll check it out.

I have a hot air soldering station that I never use and some solder paste but am afraid to 'practice' on my slop bucket kit. I feel quite confident using a soldering iron, so will probably just do it that way. No kit yet.